Contacts

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Level 1

8 points

Contacts

Many of my most used contacts disappeared, I think after an update.I tried the merge thing and it didn’t work. I found most of them under gmail contacts but I don’t know how to get them all in one place. I like the way gmail mail is set up but lately gmail has been aggressive about asking if I want google for this or that— I always say no. How can I combine, or if need be, get rid of gmail for everything? Problem is, it’s my go- to email address & has been for years.

Posted on Aug 22, 2022 01:13 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

askbarnabas

Level 10

104,142 points

Aug 22, 2022 04:06 PM in response to BSchmaltzy

I wrote this User Tip as a basic framework to manage and recover Contacts - Contacts

Contacts can sometimes become scattered or multiplied when syncing or when changing devices. To ensure that contacts are always correct, follow these few simple steps. These steps include a Mac but do not include the steps for a PC. These steps include the use of iCloud and do not require purchasing additional storage. Make sure you back up your devices regularly so you have a back up to restore from if needed.

If you are missing contacts because you recently deleted an email account, add it back until you perform these steps.

Step one

(Skip to step two if you do not own an iPhone/iPad)

On iPhone/iPad

Go to settings>mail>accounts>tap any account and turn on contacts (repeat for all accounts).
Go to settings>Apple ID (your name at the top>iCloud>iCloud backup - turn on and select "back up now."
Go back to settings>Apple ID>iCloud>turn contacts off - choose to keep on device. Do not turn it back on yet!
Go to settings>mail>accounts>tap any account except iCloud - turn off contacts (repeat for all accounts).
Go to settings>mail>accounts>tap iCloud - turn on contacts. Stop here on the iPhone until you perform the Mac steps.

Step two

(Skip to step three if you do not own a Mac)

On Mac

Go to system preferences>internet accounts>tap iCloud account - turn on contacts
Go to system preferences>internet accounts> are the contacts turned on for all accounts?
Go to system preferences>iCloud>contacts - uncheck that, and then check it again and it will ask to merge. This should force it to merge all the contacts you have for the Mac.
Go to system preferences>internet accounts>tap any account that is not iCloud - turn off contacts (repeat for all accounts).
Stop there and go to iCloud.com

Step three

On iCloud.com